Left ventricular hypertrophy in non-rheumatic myocarditis in children.

Fifty-three Japanese children with non-rheumatic myocarditis were investigated with regard to left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), which was assessed electrocardiographically. Follow-up periods ranged from 12 to 58 months with a mean of 22.8 months. Left ventricular posterior wall thickness (LVPWT) evaluated echocardiographically was compared to the electrocardiographic findings of LVH. The overall prevalence of LVH was 30.2% (16 patients). In 3 patients, LVH was detected during the first examination. In the other patients, however, LVH was detected later during the follow-up periods. In all but 2 patients, LVH disappeared during the follow-up periods. The development into hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was evident in only one patient. The LVPWT showed no definite relation to the presence of LVH. Thus, LVH on an electrocardiogram appears to be a common finding in children with non-rheumatic myocarditis.